October 26: Living Beyond Labels: A Parent’s Journey of Faith and Advocacy

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Living Beyond Labels: A Parent’s Journey of Faith and Advocacy

Anonymous Writer, Bodden Town SDA


Scripture:

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
— Psalm 139:13–14 (NIV)

As I sat through yet another parent-teacher meeting, hearing the same complaints – “won’t sit still,” “doesn’t complete tasks,” “not doing the work” – my heart ached. Deep down, I knew there was more to the story than just behavioural issues. My sons weren’t being defiant; they were struggling, and I could see it clearly even if others couldn’t or wouldn’t.

Year after year, the pattern repeated. Teachers focused on what my boys weren’t doing, while my requests for assessments fell on deaf ears. Each report card, each meeting brought the same frustrations, the same suggestions to try harder with discipline or routine. But maternal instinct and daily observations told me this wasn’t about lack of effort or discipline – my children needed help understanding and navigating a world that wasn’t designed for their unique way of processing.

Finally, I took matters into my own hands. Getting my sons assessed for ADHD and autism wasn’t just about confirming what I already suspected – it was about advocating for their needs when others wouldn’t. The diagnoses – one with ADHD, the other with both ADHD and autism – weren’t labels to limit them, but keys to understanding how to help them thrive.

God’s guidance manifested in giving me the strength to persist when the system seemed stacked against us. He provided the wisdom to know that accepting and embracing their differences wasn’t giving up – it was the first step toward helping them succeed. Through this journey, He’s shown me that sometimes being a parent means being willing to stand alone in pursuit of what your child needs.

For parents beginning this journey:

  1. Trust your parental instincts – when you know something isn’t quite right, persist in seeking answers.

  2. Document everything – both struggles and successes – to build a clear picture for professionals.

  3. Don’t wait for the system to catch up with your child’s needs; be proactive in seeking help.

  4. Remember that you are your child’s first and best advocate.

To church family supporting families with unique needs:

  1. Listen without judgment when parents share their struggles and concerns.

  2. Understand that behavioural differences aren’t always about discipline or parenting.

  3. Offer support during the diagnosis journey – it can be long and emotionally draining.

  4. Create spaces where neurodivergent children can participate comfortably in church life.

This journey has transformed not just how I parent, but how I understand God’s perfect design. Through my sons, I’ve learned that advocacy isn’t just about fighting for services or helping them fit into the world – it’s about helping them understand and embrace their unique ways of thinking, while helping the world understand the value and beauty of different ways of being. What others saw as problems to fix, we’ve learned to recognize as potential strengths to develop.

Today, as I watch my sons growing and developing their own strategies to navigate life, I see God’s faithfulness in every step forward. Each small victory, each new skill mastered, each moment of self-advocacy reinforces that God’s plan for their lives includes, not despite, their unique neurological differences. He’s teaching them to harness their unique abilities and teaching me that His design includes beautiful variations in how minds work. This path of advocacy has become a testimony to His wisdom in creating minds that work in wonderfully different ways, and His provision of strength when we need to stand firm for what we know is right.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for creating each of us fearfully and wonderfully, with unique minds and beautiful differences. Give parents the courage to advocate with love and perseverance, and the wisdom to see Your hand at work in every challenge. Help us as a community to embrace and support every child as Your precious creation. May our advocacy reflect Your grace, patience, and perfect design.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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